Rarely offered near-complete set of T217 Mono Cigarettes. Presented is a collection of twenty-one of the twenty-five cards which comprise the extremely elusive T217 Mono Cigarettes issue, each graded and encapsulated by SGC (all submitted by REA). The four cards missing for completion are Delhi (glove shoulder high), Knight, Peckinpaugh, and Thorsen. This is the first near-set of T217s that we have ever offered. The twenty-five-card T217 Mono Cigarettes set is one of the rarest of all Pacific Coast League issues and also one of the rarest of all 1910-era tobacco-card issues. Over the years we have had a handful of sample cards from this series, but never a substantial collection like the group offered here. The SGC grades are as follows: Three VG 40: Chadbourn, Criger, and Schmidt. Eight GOOD 30: Bernard, Burrell, Couchman, Delhi (glove at chest), Knapp, Mitze, Smith (batting), and Vitt. One FAIR 20: Stein. Eight POOR 10: Aiken, Daley, Delmas, Howard, Metzger, O'Rourke, Wares, and Wheeler. One Authentic: Smith (fielding). This is an exceptional and very rarely offered near-complete set of T217 Mono Cigarettes, one of the most popular, elusive, and distinctive 1910s card issues. Joe Pelaez's collecting interests gravitated strongly to rare tobacco-card issues, and it is not surprising that T217s were among the 1910s sets of great interest to him. A lot of work no doubt was invested in assembling this impressive near-set, which is literally just a few cards short of completion. Also included are six cards featuring "Leading Actresses" from the same set (four grade Gd and two Pr). From the Joe Pelaez Collection. Total: 27 cards (21 baseball players and 6 actresses). Reserve $2,500. Estimate $5,000+. SOLD FOR $9,480

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